Current measurements give the Berlin Bridge a slightly improved rating. Additional measures - which we had suspected before the investigations - are not necessary for the time being. Under the existing restrictions - no vehicles weighing over 7.5 tons, only two instead of three lanes in each direction - the bridge is still safe to use.

Additional measuring marks are currently planned for continuous monitoring in order to be able to monitor the structure even better. For this purpose, the coating was removed from a large area underneath the bridge. This has also made it possible to inspect the Gerber joints. The damage found can be repaired with minor repair work on the concrete. The construction of additional support for the joints, as assumed before the investigation, is currently not necessary. The monitoring is intended to better monitor the condition of the structure and the effects of traffic on the bridge until new construction can begin.

Since the beginning of November 2022, only two of the three lanes in each direction of the Berlin Bridge have been open to traffic. Unfortunately, this step was unavoidable due to the current calculations of the load-bearing capacity. In addition, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons are no longer allowed to drive on the bridge. Exceptions apply for emergency vehicles and public buses. The areas are signposted accordingly and the roadway is marked. A crash barrier has also been installed.

The outermost lanes (turning lanes) on the bridge are closed. However, the on and off ramps are open to traffic. The regulation will apply for the remaining service life of the bridge, which is currently estimated to be a little less than ten years.

The bridge is safe even under the conditions described. Even if a vehicle comes to a standstill on the bridge in a traffic jam, for example, there is no danger. Of course, our experts continue to check the condition of the structure on an ongoing basis.

The Berlin Bridge dates from a time when many structures were built with prestressed concrete and little reinforcement of the concrete components. There was also no long-term experience with these structures at the time. The Berlin Bridge is now almost 70 years old. Today we know that prestressed concrete is subject to major changes over its lifetime. For this reason, the federal administration has introduced so-called "recalculation guidelines" for these sensitive structures in order to determine their load-bearing capacity. The result was that the Berlin Bridge must be closed to vehicles over 7.5 tons. In addition, the lanes currently have to be reduced, at least in part, to two lanes in each direction.

In July 2021, a council resolution was passed on the subject of the "Berlin Bridge" to develop the basis for a new replacement. Since then, various options have been examined. The preliminary investigations - which were discussed between representatives of the city administration, the council factions and the local councils concerned - have shown that a new bridge would be more economical and therefore cheaper. A tunnel solution would be around four times as expensive as a new bridge because, among other things, all connections for road users (i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, cars, public transport) would have to be recreated.

With the decision in principle in May 2023, we obtained the Council's approval to only continue planning with a new bridge. Since then, the project group consisting of traffic and road planners as well as structural engineers has been specifying the type and procedure for the new bridge construction. We are aiming to submit a planning proposal to the council for approval in September 2024. This should then also include the first concrete steps towards building a new bridge.

With the decision in principle in May 2023, we obtained the council's approval to only continue planning with a new bridge. Since then, the project group made up of traffic and road planners and structural engineers has been specifying the type and procedure for the new bridge construction. We are aiming to submit a planning proposal to the council for approval in September 2024. This should then also include the first concrete steps towards building a new bridge. Our aim is still to make the most of the Berlin Bridge's lifespan.

We have also looked into replacing the Berlin Bridge with a tunnel. However, compared to building a new bridge, a tunnel would have been significantly more expensive and therefore not economical.

Since the beginning of November 2022, the lanes in each direction have been reduced from three to two. The two outer lanes are closed in each case. On- and off-ramps are not affected. In addition, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons are no longer allowed on the bridge. Exceptions will be made for emergency vehicles and public buses. The areas have been signposted accordingly and the roadway marked. A protective wall has also been installed.

There are exceptions for emergency vehicles, such as the fire department, police, THW, DRK or customs, and public buses. Clearing and gritting vehicles as well as company vehicles are also allowed to use the bridge to maintain traffic safety in the event of snow and black ice and to repair road damage. They are still allowed to cross the Berliner Brücke. The bridge is closed to all other vehicles over 7.5 tons.

Due to structural problems, the Berliner Brücke bridge structure is closed to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tons or more until further notice. The detour routes U 66, U 77, U 88 and U 99 are signposted.

For vehicles weighing 7.5 tons or more, the detour in the north is via the B 188, A 39 in the west (U 88) and via the B 188, Neuhäuser Straße/Vorsfelde in the east (U 66). The southern detour is via Heinrich-Nordhoff-Straße, A 39 in the west (U 99) and via Dieselstraße, Neuhäuser Straße/Vorsfelde in the east (U 77).

There is nothing concrete yet, but since the decision in principle in May 2023, a project group has been working intensively on the new bridge.

However, the preliminary investigations have revealed a few possibilities. It is important to the city that there is no full closure during the construction work, but that traffic can flow at all times. Therefore, the idea is to first rebuild half of the bridge - during which time the old bridge can continue to be used - and then divert traffic to the new bridge section and then build the other bridge section. Finally, the two new bridge sections will then be "pushed together". We currently expect that the two bridge sections will each take around one year to build.

The bridge also takes pedestrian and cycle traffic into account. A separate feasibility study has been commissioned for this. It is also conceivable that pedestrian and cycle traffic could be routed separately, i.e. have their own bridge. However, this will only become concrete in the coming planning stages.

Of course, the main focus is on the functionality of the bridge - in other words, ensuring that cars, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists can get from one side to the other safely. To this end, not only everyday traffic is considered, but also fan traffic at VfL Wolfsburg and Grizzlys home games. In this respect, the police are also a close coordination partner.

In addition, the Berliner Brücke is also a popular vantage point with a good view of the Autostadt, the Volkswagen plant, the Allerpark and the castle. This also plays a role in the planning.

It should also not be forgotten that the Berlin Bridge crosses the railroad line to Berlin and the Mittelland Canal. The construction work therefore also affects these two arteries. Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Maritime Authority are therefore also among the partners with whom the city must coordinate.

It is not possible to give a reliable answer to this question at this point in time. What is clear, however, is that such a new bridge will be expensive. Roughly speaking, the city expects it to cost in the mid-double-digit millions.

We also looked into the possibility of replacing the Berlin Bridge with a tunnel. In the end, this solution is not economical. A tunnel would be around four times as expensive as a new bridge. A tunnel would also take longer to build and the traffic connections - including the road, cycle path and footpath - would have to be redesigned, particularly at the St. Annen junction and the Schlosskreuzung intersection.

City of Wolfsburg
Division Road Construction and Project Coordination
Porschestrasse 49
38440 Wolfsburg

Telephone: 05361 28-1234
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